Houseboat tax 30% higher in Amsterdam Centre

Amsterdam Centre has decided to raise the mooring tax for houseboats in 2006 with 30%. Houseboat owners are furious.

The increase comes on top of another rais, of 25%, one year ago. The rate will now become EUR 8 per m2 per year. The increase is said to be necessary, because the neighbourhood council Amsterdam Centrum needs more money.

The national houseboat organization will bring Amsterdam Centrum to court over the matter. In the centre of Amsterdam there are some 900 houseboats.

Recently, Amsterdam Centrum has made plans to reduce the number of houseboats in certain places of the central canals, and some owners have already said that the tax raise is meant to encourage boat owners to move out.